The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-01
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
Florida's Anxiety To Be Relieved of
Contract with Railway Company.
Senator Allison Presents Few Figures Show
ing What Democratic Economy Consists
Of-R0utine Business in the House.


Senator and twelve Senate employees, lhcluulng |
pages. present at prayers this morning. This,
as regards Senators, is rather above the av-
erage. which fact is presumed to be due to the
resolution offered by Senator Hoar, but not yet |
adopted, requiring postponement' OF the open
ing prayer until quoroum shall have assem-
bled.
Mr. Hoar presented resolutions OF the Massa- |
chusetts Legislature concerning the treatment |
of American fshing vessels in Canadian waters,
declaring in favor of retaliation to the extent OF
denying Canadian vessels in American ports the |
right to purchase supplies and the eventual ex-
clusion of all Canadian products by land or sea
until the offensive legislation and action of the
Canadian authorities are discontinued. Re
ferred.
Mr.. Berry presented memorial of the Arkan-
Legislature in favor of returning to the cot
ton States the S67 600 of cotton tag collected
Bills from committees were reported and
placed on the calendar as follows:
For the construction of building tor the use
Of the Hougo of Representatives.; for an addi-
tional Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in
New Mexico; authorizing the construction OF
bridge across the Red River of the North: also,
across the Tennessee river near Chattanooga
Mr. Harris presented joint resolution of the
Tennessee Legislature in favor of an appropria-
sion for the worlds fair Of colored industry, at
Birmingham Ala. Referred.
Mr.. Dawes offered a resolution calling on the
Secretary of the Interior for information as to
the Apache Indians held in confinement in Flor
ida Adopted.
Mr.. Morgan offered resolution calling for
Information as to payments made out OF the
Virginius fund Adopted.
Mr.. VanWyck offered resolution calling on
the Secretary of the Treasury as to whether any
national banks are loaning money or discounting
Adopted.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.. Call,
naV
for an injunction against the Florida Railroad
and Navigation Company, was taken up
Mr.. Morgan said he was at a loss to under
stand the persistency with which the Senator
from Florida was pressing this resolution. The
committee on public lands had held a meeting
this morning, and the receiver of the railroad
company had appeared before it and stated that
the company was not advertising the lands for
sale as charged, and the first information which
the company had on the subject was Mr.. Calls
speech.
Mr.. Call stated that the decision of this matter
WAS very important to the people of Florida.
Out of the thirty three million acres of arabic
land in Florida over twenty-five million had
been conveyed to the State for the benefit OF
corporations, so that. practically the entire area
of the State was withheld except at speculative
prices.
Mr. Morgan stated that it had been shown this
morning to the satisfaction of the committee
public lands, that the State of Florida had con-
scented to the grant in a way that was irrevoca-
BILE. Mr.. Schurz, Mr.. Teller and Mr.. Lamar,
successfully Secretaries of the Interior, nad ex
amined the question with the greatest care and
had affirmed that the action of the State of
Florida was binding upon it in regard to the
grant, and that the lands had gone to the rail-
road company. The whole property of the COM
pany had gone into the hands Of receiver APP
pointed by the United States Circuit Court, who
was proceeding to administer it, and who had
Issued $500. 900 of certificates on the credit of
that property The subject undergoing
scrutiny at the hands of subcommittee of the
lsa 1nvA dc nn6 nhnylA loft
with that committee.
Mr. Call denied the statement OF the receiver.
NRd affirmed that land was being sold, and that
high $75 an acre was demanded The
S vfatement made by the Senator from Alabama
was he said. absolutely error in all its parts.
and there was not the shadow of pretense of
light in the railroad company.
The matter went over without action
The Senate then proceeded to consideration Of
the sundry civil appropriation bill.
Mr. Allison, who has charge of the bill, stated
that the committee on approximations had not
added single item for public buildings not al
ready authorized by law, but the bill had been
reported in the House even before tho estimates
had been printed, and the Senate committee had
felt IL its duty to supply omissions. The total
amount for public buildings was about one and
q half million dollars.
Mr. Plumb inquired why it was that the ap-
preparations for the current work of the coast
survey were largely increased over the amounts
appropriated by the House.
ported by the Senate committee appropria-
tions were substantially in accordance with the
Estimates of the Treasury Department
Mr. Plumb expressed the wish that the Demo
cratic House of Representatives should have a
chance of trying it's experimental cutting down
administrative expenditures
Mr. Beck Ia member of the committee on ap
prepriatons) thought the House had made
mistake In many of the appropriations in this
bill. The committee had agreed that the Senate
had better (disregarding political questions al
together) tender what was best for the good oil
thu service; and If, in conference the House
thought At to insist, it might take the RESPONSE
bility. He knew that the Senate had beer
charged with extravaganza and that the Rouse
Landed itself for economy. He was one of the
Democratic Senators who was perfectly willing
to take the responsibility. He did not think thai
those gentlemen who objected 20 do what the
public service required would make any reputa
tion before the country, or that any party CAPT
tai was to be made out of that economy which
Impaired the public service.
Az o'clock the railroad-attorney bill was laii
before the Senate as unfinished business, but i
was informally laid aside and the sundry civil
bill proceeded with.
Mar. Allison confessed that he had been temp
ted many times since the Democratic admins
tration had come into power to adopt the sug
eestion of the Senator from Kansas TMr
Plumb, and let the House have a chance of ex
perimenting it's economy. He had seen tn,
Senate held up and gibbeted on the cross road
OF public opinion, because it had insisted las
year, on an increase of appropriations as they
came from the House. Here was An ATTEMPT
for instance, on the part of the House. to hrea]
np the coast survey as now organized He dl
not believe in doing that. Those who had inves
tigated the subject knew that If regular appro
priations we're made to carry on the field work
that work would be completed, except as I
Alaska. within eight or nine years, and yet thi
soast survey would have been so crippled unde
the appropriations passed by the House tina
II thew were to be adhered to it would be bette
to abandon the work alrogether. That offc
had been always carried on by men Of the high
est scientific attainmenss, until some time since
when 8, 600 treasury clerk was appointed an
was now at its head with salary of sc, 000 Fl
was bound to say for this gentleman tina
ne had shown, in the business management